Laundry treating apparatus having a detergent supply module

• US 10,081,901 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2015
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jo, Mingyu, Kim, Dongwon, Chae, Kyosoon, Kim, Naeun
• Primary Examiner(s): Adhlakha, Rita P
• Application Number:
  US14/828,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20160017531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/085 Arrangements or adaptations of pumps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/10 Filtering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is provided that may include a cabinet having an introduction port for introduction of laundry and an opening that communicates with an outside of the cabinet, a tub arranged in the cabinet and provided with a tub introduction port that communicates with the introduction port, and a detergent supply module that stores a detergent and provides the stored detergent to the tub, the detergent supply module being detachably provided at the opening.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet provided with a laundry introduction port for introduction of laundry and a door configured to open the introduction port;

a tub arranged in the cabinet to provide a space to store washing water, wherein the tub communicates with the introduction port; and

a detergent supply module positioned under the laundry introduction port adjacent to a periphery of the laundry introduction port to supply a detergent to the tub, wherein the detergent supply module is detachably provided to the cabinet, wherein the detergent supply module

is provided in a space defined between the tub and the door and includes therein an accommodation frame configured to be exposed to an outside of the cabinet when the detergent supply module is open, and a container detachably provided to the accommodation frame, and wherein the container discharges the detergent to the accommodation frame.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detergent supply module further comprises:

a detergent pump to withdraw the detergent from the accommodation frame; and

a detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the detergent pump to the tub.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the container comprises a detergent discharge conduit to discharge the detergent stored in the container to the accommodation frame when inserted into the accommodation frame.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detergent discharge conduit is provided to a bottom surface of the container.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detergent discharge conduit discharges the detergent from the container to the accommodation frame when the detergent discharge conduit is pressed by the accommodation frame.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detergent pump is fixed to an exterior of the accommodation frame.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detergent pump is provided in a space defined between the tub and a bottom surface of the cabinet.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, when the container is inserted into the accommodation frame, the detergent pump is arranged at a lower position than the detergent discharge conduit.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a pump connection conduit provided to connect the accommodation frame with the detergent pump to guide the detergent from an interior of the accommodation frame to the pump.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detergent discharged from the detergent pump is supplied to the tub through the detergent supply conduit.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a module door to withdraw the container from the cabinet, wherein the module door is positioned at a lower portion of a door configured to open the introduction port.

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, when the container is exposed to an outside of the cabinet, the accommodation frame is exposed to outside of the cabinet.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container is inserted into the accommodation frame through an open upper surface of the accommodation frame.

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one region of the container is formed of a transparent material.

15. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container further comprises a lid for detergent supply.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a plurality of storage spaces to store different kinds of detergents.

17. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the container further comprises a first container and a second container;

wherein the first container and the second container are configured to store the different kinds of detergents;

wherein the accommodation frame further comprises a first pump connection conduit and a second pump connection conduit;

wherein a detergent discharged from the first container is introduced into the first pump connection conduit and a detergent discharged from the second container being is into the second pump connection conduit;

wherein the detergent pump further comprises a first detergent pump connected to the first pump connection conduit and a second detergent pump connected to the second pump connection conduit; and

wherein the detergent supply conduit further comprises a first detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the first detergent pump to the tub and a second detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the second detergent pump to the tub.

18. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first drainage channel to discharge washing water from an interior of the tub;

a communication hole provided at a front surface of the cabinet;

a filter provided to the first drainage channel to filter the washing water discharged from the tub, wherein the filter is withdrawable from the first drainage channel through the communication hole.

19. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detergent supply module is provided in a space defined between the tub and the bottom surface of the cabinet.

20. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet provided with a laundry introduction port for introduction of laundry;

a tub arranged in the cabinet to provide a space to store washing water, wherein the tub communicates with the introduction port;

a first door that closes the introduction port;

a detergent supply device provided under the laundry introduction port adjacent to a periphery of the laundry introduction port to supply a detergent to the tub, wherein the detergent supply device is detachably provided to the cabinet and includes a detergent container, and a second door that provides access to the detergent container, wherein the detergent supply device is provided in a space defined between the first door and the tub

and includes an accommodation frame configured to be exposed to an outside of the cabinet when the detergent supply device is open, and the detergent container, which is detachably provided to the accommodation frame, and wherein the detergent container discharges the detergent to the accommodation frame.

21. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the detergent supply device further comprises;

a detergent pump to withdrawn the detergent from the accommodation frame; and

a detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the detergent pump to the tub.

22. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the detergent container comprises a detergent discharge conduit to discharge the detergent stored in the detergent container to the accommodation frame when inserted into the accommodation frame;

wherein the detergent discharge conduit is provided to a bottom surface of the detergent container; and

wherein the detergent discharge conduit discharges the detergent from the detergent container to the accommodation frame when the detergent discharge conduit is pressed by the accommodation frame.

23. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the detergent pump is fixed to an exterior of the accommodation frame.

24. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a pump connection conduit provided to connect the accommodation frame with the detergent pump to guide the detergent from an interior of the accommodation frame to the pump, and wherein the detergent discharged from the detergent pump is supplied to the tub through the detergent supply conduit.

25. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the detergent container is inserted into the accommodation frame through an open upper surface of the accommodation frame.

26. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at least one region of the detergent container is formed of a transparent material.

27. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the detergent container further comprises a lid for detergent supply.

28. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the detergent container comprises a plurality of storage spaces to store different kinds of detergents;

wherein the detergent container further comprises a first container and a second container;

wherein the first container and the second container are configured to store the different kinds of detergents;

wherein the accommodation frame further comprise a first pump connection conduit and a second pump connection conduit;

wherein a detergent discharged from the first container is introduced into the first pump connection conduit and a detergent discharged from the second container is introduced into the second pump connection conduit;

wherein the detergent pump further comprises a first detergent pump connected to the first pump connection conduit and a second detergent pump connected to the second pump connection conduit; and

wherein the detergent supply conduit further comprises a first detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the first detergent pump to the tub and a second detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the second detergent pump to the tub.

29. The laundry treating apparatus according to of claim 20, wherein the detergent supply device is provided in a space defined between the tub and the bottom surface of the cabinet.

30. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a cabinet provided with a laundry introduction port for introduction of laundry and a door configured to open the introduction port;

a tub arranged in the cabinet to provide a space to store washing water, wherein the tub communicates with the introduction port; and

a detergent supply device provided under the laundry introduction port adjacent to a periphery of the laundry introduction port to supply a detergent to the tub, wherein the detergent supply device is detachably provided to the cabinet and includes a detergent container, and wherein the detergent container comprises a plurality of storage spaces to store different kinds of detergents, wherein the detergent supply device is provided in a space defined between the door and the tub

and includes an accommodation frame configured to be exposed to an outside of the cabinet when the detergent supply device is open, and the detergent container, which is detachably provided to the accommodation frame, and wherein the detergent container discharges the detergent to the accommodation frame.

31. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the detergent container further comprises a first container and a second container;

wherein the first container and the second container are configured to store the different kinds of detergents;

wherein the accommodation frame further comprise a first pump connection conduit and a second pump connection conduit;

wherein a detergent discharged from the first container is introduced into the first pump connection conduit and a detergent discharged from the second container is introduced into the second pump connection conduit;

wherein the detergent pump further comprises a first detergent pump connected to the first pump connection conduit and a second detergent pump connected to the second pump connection conduit; and

wherein the detergent supply conduit further comprises a first detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the first detergent pump to the tub and a second detergent supply conduit to guide the detergent discharged from the second detergent pump to the tub.

32. The laundry treating apparatus according to of claim 30, wherein the detergent supply device is provided in a space defined between the tub and the bottom surface of the cabinet.